Centenary of the Russian Revolution

The Russian Revolution of 1917 was the greatest event in modern history. Between February and October, Russia passed from the overthrow of the Tsar, through a short episode of bourgeois rule, to the conquest of power by the Bolshevik Party and the establishment of the first workers state. To mark the centenary, the WSWS is publishing a weekly feature that will provide a kaleidoscopic view of the revolution and the global events of 1917, an epochal year in world history.

The ICFI is initiating its commemoration of the centenary of the Russian Revolution of 1917 with a series of online lectures. David North, chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the WSWS, will give the first lecture, “Why Study the Russian Revolution?” The lecture will be streamed on YouTube on Saturday, March 11 at 5:00 pm Eastern (US). Four biweekly lectures will follow.

Commentary

Speaking on behalf of European capital, the London-based Financial Times has described the trade policies of the Trump administration as a “clear and present danger” to the global trading and monetary system.

This week in history: February 13-19

Classified documents leaked by the Pentagon, reported in the New York Times and the Washington Post the week of February 17, 1992, revealed that the US was engaged in intensive planning for wars in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

The February 13, 1967 admission by leaders of the liberal National Student Association (NSA) that their organization had been receiving funds from the Central Intelligence Agency since the 1950s sparked a series of exposures.

On February 19, 1942 US President Franklin Roosevelt, under authority of the War Powers Act, signed Executive Order 9066, which put the Army in charge of uprooting Japanese-Americans and placing them in internment camps for the duration of World War II.